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Fest funding: Keep events coming

El Paso Times Editorial Board

Posted:
05/24/2013 12:00:00 AM MDT

El Paso is quickly becoming a popular place for fests. We're not an Austin when it comes to music festivals, but it wasn't too long ago we were not much of anything, be it music on the street, at outdoor venues or inside nightclubs and arenas.

That's been changing, and on Tuesday, City Council adjusted a rule in hopes of enticing more people and promoters to bring events into Downtown. With no opposition on the dais, Council removed a restriction that had limited to three the number of times events could apply for city funding.

A panel decides which events qualify for the funding program, and how much money they are to be allotted.

The idea is to help bring events Downtown, including helping fill up hotel space and promoting the arts. The maximum funding, used for costs, is $20,000.

In 2012, there were 22 Downtown events. Not all got nearly the maximum, but combined there were 123,000 people who attended. And ticket sales amounted to $1.5 million.

Attendees also spent millions of dollars with Downtown merchants.

Bringing large groups of people to Downtown, to have fun and spend money, is one of the drivers of the ongoing effort to revitalize Downtown and make it a much bigger player in our tax base.

Several thousand people are expected to be at Cleveland Square on Saturday for the popular and rapidly growing Neon Desert Music Festival. More than two dozen bands are scheduled to perform.

Among the most popular events is the annual Plaza Classic Film Festival at the historic Plaza Theatre. This year's event runs Aug. 1-11.

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In the past, funding has helped other events such as: El Paso Marathon, Kidspalooza family festival, Sun City Pride, Street Fest, Taste of El Paso and the Mexican Food World Cook-off.

Gina Martinez, a Neon Desert organizer, said that with continued help on funding, the event could be expanded to a two- or three-day event in the future.

We will benefit economically if these events continue here, and more joined in.

There are parts of the U.S. where virtually every weekend from summer through fall has a festival of some kind. We already have a good summer tradition via the Music Under the Stars series at the Chamizal.

Fest-wise, there is also some good news that the popular Fort Bliss Octoberfest may continue, even though the German Air Force has been re-stationed to Holloman Air Force Base near Alamogordo. County Coliseum President Brian Kennedy said there has been talk of moving the event to his facility.

The arts are an important part of any city. Keep events coming. City Council made the right decision in tweaking how funding for such events can be distributed.